KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry today clarified that it did not approve the use of the word “Timah” on whiskey labels.
In a statement today, the Food Safety and Quality Division said while the division is responsible for offering food labelling advice to ensure labels abide by laws set under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, Timah whiskey producers did not seek any advice pertaining to the matter.
“The Food Safety and Quality Division did not give any approval regarding the labelling.
“However, the division offers food labelling advisory services to ensure that labels comply with labelling provisions under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.
“Based on checks, the company did not apply for any labelling advice service from this division.”
The division said food labelling monitoring is done based on Food Act 1983 and regulations under the act.
“However, the Order 18 (1A) of Food Regulations 1985 does not allow words that reflect grading, quality or advantage, or any words that state grading, quality or any words which have a similar meaning, to be used as a brand name.
“Brands like ‘Timah’, ‘Omar’ and others do not reflect grading, quality or advantage, and hence this matter does not fall under the Order 18 (1A).”
The award-winning Malaysian-made Timah whiskey has soured for some as criticism has been levelled at the brand over its choice of name.
The liquor makers have said the brand’s name is the Malay word for tin, harking back to the tin-mining era during British colonial times.
Although its makers have issued an explanation behind the name, it did not stop Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad from lodging a complaint with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry.
In a brief interview with TV AlHijrah last Saturday, he confirmed that reports have been lodged with the two ministries, calling for an investigation.
On Tuesday, the PAS lawmaker continued to condemn the liquor producer and branding the whiskey as “provocative”, besides reiterating calls for the name to be changed.
Idris urged the local award-winning producer to pick another name as it has sown confusion among Muslims in the country.
He also expressed concerns that the use of “Timah” is aimed at normalising drinking alcoholic beverages, especially among Muslims in Malaysia. – The Vibes, October 22, 2021
